'Lovebugs' are swarming Seoul as South Korea warms, and residents aren't happy

Seoul residents are grappling with an invasion of so-called “lovebugs” that have swarmed hiking trails and urban areas across the South Korean capital, with experts debating how to handle the infestations that are surging as the climate crisis draws them further north.

Viral footage shared on social media shows Gyeyangsan mountain in Incheon, west of Seoul, with hiking trails and observation decks carpeted black with the insects.

Originally from subtropical regions of south-eastern China, Taiwan and Japan’s Ryukyu islands, the lovebugs were first scientifically identified in South Korea during a major 2022 outbreak.

Experts say the climate crisis and urban development around mountain habitats as well as rising temperatures are creating ideal conditions for their northward expansion into temperate zones, with Seoul’s urban heat-island effect making the city’s environment particularly attractive.

Complaints to city authorities have more than doubled from 4,418 in 2023 to 9,296 last year. Incheon received more than 100 reports in a single day this year.

The outbreak has triggered heated debate over pest control methods.

The lovebugs themselves pose no direct threat to humans: they do not bite, transmit diseases or feed significantly as adults.

Instead, officials recommend water spraying to remove insects from surfaces, installing light traps and sticky pads around outdoor lighting, and wearing dark-coloured clothing when outdoors, as the insects are attracted to bright colours and lights.

Public patience is wearing thin, however. A Seoul Institute survey found 86% of residents consider lovebugs as pests despite their ecological benefits, ranking them the third most unpleasant insect after cockroaches and bedbugs.

Government researchers are reportedly developing fungal pesticides that target lovebug larvae while minimizing ecosystem damage.

Natural population control is also emerging as birds, including magpies and sparrows, learn to eat the insects, causing numbers to drop in previously affected areas.

The lovebugs typically disappear by mid-July, as their brief adult lifespan

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/30/seoul-lovebug-invasion-insects-south-korea

Comprehension

What kind of insect is causing problems in Seoul?
Where are lovebugs originally from?
What environmental factor is helping the bugs spread north?
When were lovebugs first scientifically identified in South Korea?
Why is Seoul particularly attractive to lovebugs?
What are two pest control methods officials are using?
What kind of clothing should people wear to avoid lovebugs?
How do most Seoul residents feel about lovebugs, according to a survey?
What kind of new pesticide are researchers developing?
What natural predators are helping control the lovebug population?

Discussion

Have you ever experienced an insect outbreak in your city or country? How did people react?
How do you feel about insects that don’t harm humans but are still considered pests?
Do you think climate change affects where insects live? Why or why not?
Would you be willing to tolerate insects if they helped the environment?
What should the government do if a non-dangerous insect becomes a nuisance?
How can cities prepare for changes caused by global warming?
Would you prefer natural or chemical methods to control pests? Why?
What’s the most annoying insect in your opinion? Why?
Have you ever changed your clothes or behavior because of insects?
What do you think about using birds or natural predators to control insect populations?

Vocabulary

Grapple (with) – to struggle or deal with a difficult problem
Infestation – a large number of insects or animals that cause problems
Subtropical – a warm climate just below the tropics
Outbreak – a sudden increase or appearance of something (usually negative)
Urban heat island – a city area that’s hotter than nearby rural areas
Pest control – the management or removal of insects or animals causing harm
Ecological – related to the environment and living things
Larvae – the immature form of an insect before it becomes an adult